Methods and systems for improving automatic engine stopping and starting

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, vehicle launch control parameters are adjusted responsive to a learned driving style. The approach may provide vehicle launches that are closer to driver expectations than vehicle launches that are based solely on accelerator pedal position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:
 adjusting launch of the vehicle, including transmission gear selection, via a learned driver behavior and an identified present vehicle driver, where a numeric value represents the learned driver behavior, and where the numeric value is a weighted sum of a plurality of parameters that are generated from a plurality of vehicle launches and non-launch conditions; and 
 selecting a group of control parameters from the learned driver behavior. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , where adjusting launch of the vehicle includes adjusting spark timing of an engine. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , where the non-launch conditions include a frequency of downshifting during vehicle acceleration. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , where the non-launch conditions include a frequency of downshifting two or more gears during vehicle acceleration. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , where the launch of the vehicle includes vehicle conditions including an automatic engine stop and zero vehicle speed. 
     
     
       6. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:
 automatically stopping an engine; 
 shifting a transmission that is coupled to the engine to a gear according to a learned driving style, the learned driving style being a function of parameters learned during prior vehicle launches; 
 automatically starting the engine; and 
 launching the vehicle via power supplied from the engine to the transmission, the transmission engaged in the gear. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising adjusting the power supplied from the engine as a function of the learned driving style. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , where adjusting the power supplied from the engine includes reducing the power supplied from the engine as a function of time between releasing a brake pedal and applying an accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , where adjusting the power supplied from the engine includes increasing the power supplied from the engine as a function of time between releasing a brake pedal and applying an accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , where adjusting the power supplied from the engine includes increasing the power supplied from the engine as a function of frequency of downshifting during vehicle acceleration. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , where the parameters learned during prior vehicle launches include rate of accelerator pedal increase. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , where the parameters learned during prior vehicle launches include vehicle acceleration rate.